The Portland daily press., 1887-11-10

one of Mrs. Belcher's neices He lived
across the street. l heard her say at one
time that she was building store for Nate
Backu*. Nate Frank, she always called him.
thing about giving any other store to any
other person. remember Of being at Mrs.
Belcher's when DR.. Cheney called.
do not recollect just when it
was, but it was after 1877, 1 think not
more than three or four years before she
visits. think it was in January. He came
on the cars. Mrs. Belcher inquired if he had
come right from home, and replied he had.
MRS. Belcher told her girl to iget him some
supper. lie sat down, and then got up and
ate his supper. and then came and sat down
again and sat until he went to bed. He re-
manned all night. He made no particular
conversation with either Mrs. Belcher or
myself, except to answer as Mrs. Belcher
would speak. Mrs. Belcher introduced me
while he remained. Mrs Belcher told him
during the evening about my eyes, what a
great misfortune IL was for one to nearly
lose ones sight, and he never opened his
mouth. She then said to him, You know
her father. John Craig, and he said no, he
did not. She told him that she thought he
must have known him, and he said no. Mrs.
Belcher said to him that he must have known
my grand parents, or my grandmother, as she
was Freewlll Baptist, and he said that he
dld not: In the morning he sat down there
again. as he had done in the evening, and
sat until it was time for him to go and take
the cars. He did not go out after he arrived
until he went away He made no talk with
Mrs. Belcher, only to answer her questions.
Mrs. Belcher did not ask him to stay longer,
or to cali again. but she asked him ii he was
going right home, and he told her he was.
That was the only time | was there when
Dr. Cheney was there. He had not more
than got out the yard before Mrs. Belcher
said, 1 am glad he is gone and turning to
me she said, 1 feel relieved; don't you p
and then she wanted to know what kind of
minister l called him. She said, we were
talking about your eyes, and he never said a
word, nor showed any sympathy, and when
! asked him about your folks he did not
he must have known / have heard you say
your father knew him, and / believe he
boarded at your grandfather's.' l was there
in the summer or fall after Hiram died Mrs
Belcher said, DIR. Cheney has called on me
and asked me if wouldn't give them a GER
tain sum for the college at Lewiston. If |
would give them a certain sum they would
call it Belcher College, and that he said that
he thought that would bear up her
sons name better than in any other
way she could dispose OF her property. Or,
that II she would give them a certain sum
they would finish off hall and call it
Belcher Hall. She said that she told him
she would think of it, and she said Il have
thought of it, and the more think of it the
more l think / won't do it, That was all
at that time. / was there again not great
while afterwards; l do not recollect just
how long. Mrs. Belcher then said to me.
Don't you think. old Cheney has been here
again after my property. What do you
think of it? Why didn't he come when my
son was alive? As soon as my son was
dead be came right after my property He
said that | should want laurels on my grave,
and my grave kept in repair Mrs Belcher
said she had replied. Didn't Judge Parker
will you certain sum, and have you placed
laurels on his grave, and kept his grave in
repair2 | understand it is neglected
grave; that his folks are all gone and there
is no one to keep it in repair She said that